AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS SOCIETY

CANBERRA REGION (INC)

Journal Vol. 19 No. 01 March 2017 ISN 1447-1507 Print Post Approved PP100000849 Contents A Walk on the Yerrabi Track Jo Walker 3 Acacia paradoxa flower galls, mystery partly solved Roger Farrow 9 Small Shrubs Masumi Robertson 11 Grafting Australian Native Plants Phil Trickett 15 Bloomin' Outback Roger Farrow 19 Rivers of Carbon — Rivers of Life Rosemary Blemings 23 Potty Croweas Bill Willis 26 Sprummer Field Trips Roger Farrow 29 Our Environment — Temperature Masumi Robertson 36 Banksia Study Group Reactivated Kevin and Kathy Collins 40 Christmas Party 2016 photos 42 Study Group Notes Brigitta Wimmer 45 Treading Lightly Rosemary Blemings 46 ANPS Canberra contacts and membership details inside back cover Cover: Blandfordia nobilis, Little Forest Plateau, Morton National Park; Photo: Catriona Bate

Journal articles The deadline dates for submissions are 1 February (for The Journal is a forum for the exchange of members' March edition), 1 May (June), 1 August (September) and others' views and experiences of gardening with, and 1 November (December). propagating and conserving Australian plants. Send articles or photos to: All contributions, however short, are welcome and Journal Editor may be accompanied by photographs or drawings. Gail Ritchie Knight The editor reserves the right without exception to edit 1612 Sutton Road all articles and include or omit images as appropriate. Sutton NSW 2620 Submit photographs as either electronic files, such e-mail: [email protected] as JPEGs, or prints. Set your digital camera to take tel: 0416 097 500 high resolution photos. Please send JPEGs separately Paid advertising is available in this Journal. Contact and not embedded in a document. If photos are too the Editor for details. large to email, copy onto a CD or USB drive and send Society website: http://nativeplants-canberra.asn.au it by post. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed Printed by Elect Printing, Fyshwick, ACT envelope if you would like your prints returned. If you http://www.electprinting.com.au/ have any queries please contact the editor.

Original text may be reprinted, unless otherwise indicated, provided an acknowledgement for the source is given. Permission to reprint non-original material and all drawings must be obtained from the copyright holder. The views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Society. A Walk on the Yerrabi Track, Namadgi National Park

The sun came out after lunch revealing the view from near the Boboyan Trig

Text: Jo Walker; Photos: Jean Geue 25 January 2017 By the time we reached the Boboyan Trig carpark to start our walk, we were enveloped in a white mist which kept us unexpectedly cool all morning until we got to the highest part of the track. The beginning of the track descends gently through a forest of mainly Persoonia chamaepeuce Broad-leaved Peppermint trees (Eucalyptus dives) towards a swampy edge of the track was an Anchor grassland. The low understorey Plant (Discaria pubescens) covered on the slope consisted mainly of in an unusually large number of Podolobium alpestre and Persoonia small green seed capsules. As we chamaepeuce with a few Exocarpos strolled down the lower and much strictus. An interesting find at the moister end of the slope, Bulbine

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 3 Discaria pubescens Podolepis hieracioides bulbosa and Podolepis hieracioides brightened up the scene with their yellow flowers. The track traverses one edge of the swamp, with a wide vista of Snowgrass (Poa sieberiana) to the left and a crescent of Black Sallee (Eucalyptus stellulata) sheltering the far side. Amongst the grass tussocks were more Bulbine bulbosa, and near the path in the more open areas Hypoxis hygrometrica and a few Geranium antrorsum nestled close to the ground. But the most noticeable plant, adorning the edge of the path for some distance, was Trachymene humilis. These are in the carrot Leptospermum myrtifollum, still in flower family (Apiaceae) and bear multiple- flowered flat white flowerheads The under-storey there is mostly the on short stems. Some shrubby mountain form of Acacia dealbata vegetation included Leptospermum and the silvery blue-green foliage myrtifolium, white-flowering against a backdrop of dark misty Baeckea utilis and a few Hakea forest brought to mind intricate microcarpa in seed. embroidery. Amongst the wattles, After the flat stroll, we came to an a few Olearia megalophylla were upward path through Snow Gums growing — and a large Clematis (Eucalyptus pauciflora) and Mountain aristata, heavily laden with almost- Gums (E. dalrympleana). ripe seed-heads, covered a fallen log.

4 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Fog at the beginning of the walk in dry forest where Eucalyptus dives (Broad-leaved Pepermint) dominates

As we approached the Boboyan is Shannon’s Flat adamellite and is Trig at the top of the track the mist even older than the shale, some 475 cleared. Burgan (Kunzea ericoides) million years old. As well as giving was growing thickly in places, an incredible insight into the Earth’s still bearing its white flowers. The history, the smooth granite proved mountain form is a bit different to be an ideal lunch spot. to those growing locally at lower The track continues down some altitudes — they are lower-growing steep and elderly concrete steps and have brighter green leaves. through a narrow cleft in the Scattered amongst the rocks around rocks, eventually ending on a wide the trig were lots of pink-flowering expanse of granite from where you Pelargonium australe and a few can see most of the mountain peaks Veronica perfoliata. in the National Park — on a good In the vicinity of the Trig, the day, that is! By then, we had come geology changes markedly from the out of the cloud, but it extended dark and flaky 410 million-year-old mistily right along the valley below. metamorphosed sedimentary rocks So we had to assume the vista we’d been walking on to dark- displayed on an information board flecked pale grey granite. The latter was there in the mist somewhere.

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 5 Exocarpos strictus

6 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Some other plants were found brown mottled lizard, probably a there, anyway — a few Pomaderris species of Ctenotus. phylicifolia and some Phebalium And twice we saw furry caterpillars squamulosum ssp ozothamnoides. hosting multiple bright red mites And several clumps of Dianella (as pictured in Roger Farrow’s book tasmanica, heavily laden with Insects of Southeastern Australia still-green fruit, were growing in p.159). But the insect highlight was a the shelter of the rocks. Some little female Mountain Cricket in warning native animal obviously found them display mode, exhibiting the bright tasty, as there were several piles red and blue colours below her raised of fresh skins with the fleshy parts dark wings. entirely eaten out. We even found some food as the There were other signs of wildlife Exocarpos strictus plants were along the way. The birds stayed bearing their pale pink fruit (or, mostly amongst the trees, but we more correctly, the edible swollen heard Gang-gangs, Yellow-tailed pedicels — the fruit is the tiny hard Black Cockatoos and Leaden seed at the tip). Flycatchers plus other unidentified calls. We saw a beautiful gold and Altogether it was a lovely walk, without experiences ranging from standing on massive rocks old enough to defy imagination to watching tiny insects carry out the intricacies of their short lives amongst the vegetation.

Exocarpos strictus and friend

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 7 Morning tea in the mist, Yerrabi Track, Namadgi National Park

8 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Acacia paradoxa flower galls Mystery partly solved

Text and photos by Roger Farrow In an article entitled A Galling Paradox, in the 2014 September edition of our journal, I described some unusual flower galls found on Acacia paradoxa in the Burra section of the Tinderry Nature Reserve in May during a Wednesday Walk. At this time, the galls were empty and grey in colour and each had a small hole indicating that the causal agent, probably a gall-wasp, had emerged and left. During the following spring, I found Figure 2: Acacia paradoxa flower gall immature galls replacing the axillary flowers of A. paradoxa nearer at hand On December 25, we were away for the along Urila Road. When I returned in festivities and when we returned on January 2015 to collect mature galls I the 26th the container of gall-bearing found them empty as the causal agent branches was full of hundreds of tiny had again emerged previously. This wasps (Fig 3). happened again in January 2016 so in December 2016 I collected some twigs of A. paradoxa (Fig 1) with clusters of mature galls that had few emergence holes (Fig. 2).

Figure 3: Chalcid gall-wasps

Figure 1: Acacia paradoxa flower gall

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 9 emerging wasps so each infested host bush, containing several hundred of these compound galls, can produce upwards of a thousand wasps. However, another question is: what these fragile wasps do after emergence until the new flower buds form in autumn. Is there an alternative host plant or do the wasps aestivate till autumn? Adult survival of the wasp could be the crucial Figure 4: Chalcid gall-wasps factor in the level of gall infestation in A. paradoxa. An inspection under the microscope About another gall (Fig 4) showed them to be gall wasps probably in the family Pteromalidae In 2012, I photographed an unusual line and possibly a species of Trichilogaster of spindle-shaped galls on a yellow box that is known to produce flower galls at Queanbeyan Nature Reserve. John on Acacias, such as A. longifolia and Lasalle recently came across a single A. dealbata. dried specimen of the gall in the ANIC collection, labelled Tepperella eucalypti I preserved a sample in alcohol and now Terobiella eucalypti (Pteromalidae) sent it to Dr John Lasalle, an honorary from Lakemba, but no specimens of the researcher at the Australian National wasp that induces the gall were present. Insect Collection (ANIC) at CSIRO and I have been looking for this gall for specialist on parasitic Hymenoptera. several years so if anyone comes across He was able to confirm that it was not one could they let me know so I can rear a species of Trichilogaster, as previously out the wasps and send to John. conjectured, and despite going through the generic key for Pteromalidae and checking the wasps associated with Acacias has been unable to come up with a name. Each flower bud is replaced by 10–15 tapered hairy galls each containing a single wasp larva. No hyperparasites were detected among the

Figure 5: Terbiella eucalypti on Eucalyptus melliodora, Queanbeyan Nature Reserve

10 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Small Shrubs

Text and photos by Masumi Robertson Bywong Nursery. Many others also unless otherwise stated do well in Canberra gardens. This cultivar has lots of red bells, tipped Small shrubs are woody plants up to white, and is a magnet for nectar 1.3 metres high and more tall than feeding birds. Our plant took a few wide. We can plant more of these years to become bushy, but it is one plants in our gardens, giving us a of the most reliable (almost plant variety of flowers and leaf textures and forget) correas. through the seasons. They are well suited to the foreground of a garden bed and/or along a path. They are also good in containers, courtyard gardens and in the newer, smaller blocks. Most of those on this list are hardy, some less so but definitely worth trying. Aiming for 10 plants, I ended up with 12. After all, the small shrub section contains the largest number of plants in our book.

Crowea ‘Festival’ This is the most reliable and attractive crowea for us. It has a dense growth habit covered with pink flowers in autumn, and some flowers most of the year. Full sun is best for lots of flowers and compact growth. We also find the bright green leaves attractive. Another favourite, ‘Pink Blush’ which has pale Photo: Bywong Nursery pink flowers is definitely worth a go. Correa ‘Canberra Bells’ This is the Canberra centenary plant. This correa, along with many other correa hybrids, was bred locally by

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 11 Cryptandra spinescence Epacris longiflora This is a cheerful plant flowering Epacris plants are not as hardy as others through winter into spring, very long on this list, but this one in particular flowering indeed. Lots of small white is worth trying. Ours flowers most of flowers cover the plant. It may need the year, producing cheerful long red some care to establish, but once it trumpets topped white, if the Crimson settles into a well-drained, sunny spot, Rosellas leave them alone. We find full it is long lived; ours is 20 years old. sun in Canberra is too hot for this plant. Ours receives sun about half a day and it does better and flowers continuously when watered regularly over the warmer months.

Derwentia arenaria Yet another very long flowering plant (spring into early autumn) with bright blue flowers opening up along a long stem. It is a hardy plant that does well in Eremophila subfloccosa full sun. Prune the old stems in spring to The flowers may be green and hidden, promote new growth. but birds have no trouble finding them and it is a favourite for nectar feeders. We find the plant attractive for its green- grey leaves all year round. It is very hardy for both frosts and drought. It is best pruned often for a dense growth.

12 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Goodenia ovata Leucophyta brownii This understory plant grows under This compact plant will add a white various eucalyptus trees in our garden. contrast to your garden all year round. The trees also give some frost protection. The woolly, silver leaves and stems The frost-affected parts can be pruned are attractive among the other green and the plant grows back well. Pruning plants. The plant is grown for the leaf also helps to keep the plant bushy. In colour, even though it flowers well with spring, the shrub is covered by yellow lots of small, yellow balls in summer. flowers with some flowers throughout Our latest one is from the Australian the year. It does better with watering National Botanic Gardens Friends’ sale during hot months. Plants of its prostrate and appears to be the best form found form provide good groundcover. so far. We gave it full sun and open air and this plant just took off!

Grevillea ‘Amethyst’ Melaleuca thymifolia There are many small Grevilleas and we We have several forms of this species; find this plant is one of the best. It is pale pink, white, purple and ‘Candy Pink’. more reliable and floriferous than one They are all hardy and long flowering of its parents, G. confertifolia. Showy and can fit into a small space for colour. flowers cover the plant in spring. It is Ours are in full sun. best in full sun and tolerant of some dryness once established.

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 13 Phebalium glandulosum Thomasia purpurea var This is a pretty, small shrub which undulata flowers well in some shade, even in a This very hardy, small shrub is a must somewhat dry site. The shrub becomes for any garden. The compact plant is covered with cheerful, yellow flowers attractive all year round with felt-like in late winter into early spring. Not leaves and open, pink bell flowers are a a commonly available plant, but it is cheerful sight in spring. Most thomasia worth looking for. species grow well under trees, in dry shady spots and this one does too. Our latest addition is growing in full sun, tolerating hot Canberra summers and hard frosts.

Lambertia inermis; Photo: Glenn Pure

14 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Grafting Australian Native Plants The cutting graft method

Text and photos by Phil Trickett So what can we do to encourage the availability of grafted native plants for Any gardener who has tried to grow our gardens? One option is to use a some of the spectacular Western simpler, less resource intensive method Australian plants outside their natural of grafting with the potential to increase environment knows all too well the the supply, diversity and range of difficulty in keeping these plants alive grafted plants, at a lower cost. for more than a few months. This method is where the scion is Grafting onto hardy eastern Australia grafted onto a cutting of the rootstock rootstocks has long been touted as the and the resulting graft is processed as a answer to this problem. However, the cutting, called a cutting graft. Although cost and time involved in producing not widely used, the cutting graft grafted plants commercially has been method has a number of advantages for a huge brake on their development professional grafters and is also suitable and availability. These plants are often for the home gardener wanting to graft: priced at two to three times the price •• the time and effort growing stock of non-grafted plants, resulting in both seedlings needed for the ‘traditional’ limited demand and consequential method is eliminated, which is likely reduced supply. to encourage more grafting; Most commercial grafting to-date has •• growers can choose a rootstock from concentrated on the grevillea genus, their own garden, from a plant which and many successful long-lived plants is proven to be vigorous and hardy have been produced. Despite these in their conditions; successes, the supply of grafted native •• given practice, cutting grafts are plants in NSW and Qld nurseries is easier and quicker to process than currently negligible. ‘traditional’ grafts. The most common method of grafting in Grafted Corymbia ficifolia and related current use is to graft the scion (the plant hybrids, Eremophila nivea and the odd being grafted onto the rootstock) onto grevillea if you are lucky, are pretty well a rooted seedling. This is the method the limit of expectation when visiting most used by professional grafters of nurseries in these States. Expectations Australian native plants. A major cost are slightly higher in Victoria and South of this method is the production of Australia, but depend on a few specialist rootstock seedlings ready for grafting. grafters. The main advantage of this method is

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 15 that the grafted plant is ready to plant •• soak stock and scion cuttings in a out slightly quicker than cutting grafts. bleach solution (one part bleach to eight parts water) for a few seconds This article focuses on the alternative then rinse in water and pat dry method of the cutting graft. Wider use of this technique would allow for greater with paper towel. This prevents any experimentation and production among fungal issues developing while the grafters of native plants. graft takes. Choosing your stock plant I produce cutting grafts using the wedge technique for a large range of species species within the genera grevillea, Which species should be used as stock hakea, banksia, dryandra, eremophila, plants for cutting grafts? There are four isopogon and pimelea. I graft all year main criteria: round and I continue to experiment •• the chosen species should be hardy on ‘new’ species, depending on the to your conditions; availability of scion material. My • techniques are the result of many • the chosen species must be long- years of experimentation and learning term compatible with the scion from other growers, and I continue to being grafted; develop them. Here are the three most •• the chosen species must strike roots vital parts of my method for successfully readily, ideally in a period less than producing cutting grafts. three months; •• non-lignotuberous species should Key steps for successful be used to avoid the problem of the cutting grafts grafted plants resprouting below the •• scion (plant being grafted): Choose graft. firm, semi-hard scion material. New Here are some examples of species tip growth should be avoided as this which satisfy these criteria for the main will tend to wilt quickly resulting in genera currently grafted: the graft failing; Grevillea — ‘Carrington Cross’, •• stock: Take a cutting of your chosen ‘Burgundy Blaze’, ‘Bronze Rambler’ stock plant from a plant growing in your garden. This cutting should be Hakea — Hakea salicifolia chosen to match the diameter of the Isopogon/petrophile — Isopogon scion material, and should be around anethifolius, I. mnoraifolius 4-5 cm in length. Remove all leaves from the stock cutting, apart from Banksia — Banksia integrifolia, B. one leaf at the very tip of the cutting. cunninghamii All other leaves can be removed — Eremophila — Myoporum acuminatum, don’t strip the bark when removing M. insulare, M. montanum leaves. Keeping the top leaf is vital to prevent any ‘dieback’ around the Pimelea — Pimelea ligustrina, P. graft union; ferruginea

16 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Key requirements in success- become too wet or too dry. Both will fully raising cutting grafts result in the death of the stock plant before roots are formed; The actual grafting is only one part of the process for successfully producing •• Once roots have formed, plants cutting grafts. The conditions provided should be potted on using a to these grafts as they undergo the twin potting mix with high air porosity. Perlite can be added to commercial processes of the graft taking and the potting mixes that may retain too stock producing roots are equally critical much moisture and compromise to the success of the graft. Sub-standard plants successfully growing on after conditions can very easily wipe out an potting up. Protection from direct entire production of grafts in one day! summer sunlight and strong winds is Key dangers are the death of the stock important at this stage. or scion, fungal disease, and incorrect levels of light, warmth and humidity. Below are some young cutting grafts So what are the things to consider where the graft has successfully taken in providing optimal conditions for and roots have formed on the rootstock. successful grafts? Each clearly illustrates one leaf only at the top of the stock plant. •• Recognise that each species being grafted requires different levels of humidity. For example Isopogon cuneatus only requires the protection offered by shadehouses, whereas Grevillea leptobotrys requires the very high humidity provided by a glasshouse under misting for at least the first month after grafting. Trial and error is the only real way to determine the level of humidity needed. However, a rough rule of thumb is that flat, Banksia media, cutting graft more leathery leaves such as those on Isopogon cuneatus or Banksia media require less humidity than the fine, terete leaved species such as Grevillea leptobotrys or Grevillea dielsiana; •• The correct light and heat are vital, and the variation in temperature throughout the year needs to be tempered through shading/ temperature reduction measures; •• Ensure that the cutting mix does not Eremophila cuneifolia, cutting graft

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 17 Isopogon cuneatus, cutting graft

Finally a photo of a mature Isopogon cuneatus, grafted using the cutting graft technique. Why isn’t this spectacular plant widely available as a grafted plant in nurseries? The cutting graft technique has the potential to produce these in large quantities at a far lower price than currently charged for grafted plants. Let’s hope we see commercial growers of Australian native plants experiment with this technique, so that in the near future more of our spectacular plants become available to our gardeners. A form of this article was previously published in the July 2016 edition of Research Matters, Newsletter of the Isopogon cuneatus, in flower Australian Flora Foundation.

18 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Bloomin' Outback

Bulbines on the black soil downs between Hughenden and Winton

Text and photos by Roger Farrow When Christine and I returned from the Daintree in September we had planned to travel via the Red Centre to see the reported explosion of wild flowers following the June rains but as the time for our departure approached the rain continued and more and more roads were closed in the inland. So we decided on a more modest trip on the edge of the Queensland outback, Daisies on the Downs sticking to sealed roads and not to mud of all was the Flinders Poppy, Pimelea as far as possible. On our second day decora, which is restricted to this region. south we drove over the grassy downs from Hughenden to Winton where At Winton we decided to visit the the flowers started with bulbine lilies, dinosaur stampede display at Lark various daisies, swainsona peas and Quarry on the Jundah Road 100km to crotalarias. But the most spectacular the south. We were probably lulled into

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 19 Pimelea decora Ptilotus exaltatus a false sense of security by the well- maintained road to the quarry passing through breakaways of mulga scrub and flower-lined roadsides of swainsonas, paper daisies such as Rhodanthe floribunda and many others.

Rising waters

we spent some time removing the mud in pouring rain but at least we were now on a sealed road. We spent a wet night in Windorah Rhodanthe floribunda and the next day continued south to Quilpie under a threatening sky After leaving the quarry we continued and rising waters in the creeks. The south and drove into downland with roadsides through the red sands of the panoramic views over grassland with mulga scrub were always full of flowers more bulbines and pussy tails Ptilotus including the pale blues of Scaevola sp, while the road deteriorated into a barbata, yellows of goodenia, whites black soil track with few signs, if any, of wild tobacco, Nicotiana velutina and of any vehicles passing this way. Then pinks of the succulent calandrinias. a light rain started and we could hear the pellets of mud being flicked by our At Quilpie we found that all roads were car onto the camper trailer till the mud closed by rising floodwaters except was about 25cm thick. Fortunately we the one to the west so we detoured found a wash-down in Jundah where to Thargomindah via the loop road to

20 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Scaevola barbata

Senecio magnificus The next day we travelled east through mulga scrub to Cunnamulla, encountering a bright blue brachyscome yet to be identified as Nicotiana velutina well as stands of Turpentine bush, Eremophila sturtii, in full flower. Noccundra, an extra 500km. However it did give us the chance to see more wildflower displays along the roadside including Potato Bush, Solanum ellipticum, Yellowtop, Senecio magnificus, with its fleshy stem-clasping leaves and various sennas such as Senna artemesioides ssp artemesioides.

Eromophila sturtii

Although no longer in the ‘outback’ the sand hills and grassy flood plains between Cunnamulla and Bourke proved to be the most floriferous Senna artemisioides yet, with carpets of daisies and peas

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 21 Brachyscome sp

Calotis erinacae Stemodia florulenta

Olearia subspicata ? Coronidium sp including Tangled Burr Daisy, Calotis Our final overnight stop was Nyngan erinacea, spiky daisy bush, Olearia where the Bogan River lapped the subspicata, and blue rod, Stemodia infrastructure in the caravan park florulenta, on the dunes and Swainsona and so ended our eventful trip and sp and an unidentified billy button on an opportunistic look at the ‘bloomin the floodplains. outback’.

22 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Rivers of Carbon — Rivers of Life Presentation to ANPS 8th December 2016 by Siwan Lovett

By Rosemary Blemings purposes, with the added incentive of potentially being able to claim carbon Rivers of Carbon — Rivers of Life is a most poignant, appropriate and credits in the future. The Rivers of inspiring story for our time. Their Carbon (RoC) project supports such website explains the Rivers of Carbon works, enabling farmers to achieve approach thus: production and biodiversity goals now, while also getting carbon into About Rivers of Carbon the landscape at subsidised rates. ‘The care of rivers is not a question Perhaps it was that Siwan and the Rivers of rivers, but of the human heart’ — of Carbon (RoC) team often work with Tanako Shozo Greening Australia people I know — Rivers of carbon are rivers of life! We local environmental heroes — that work with landholders to protect and the story meant so much. Many of the restore their rivers so that the fish, landscapes were familiar, at least as birds, platypus and other animals examples of what we’ve come to call ‘our that call the river ‘home’, can thrive. country’ in the National Capital’s region: Looking after our rivers makes sense, the Yass, Breadalbane, Booroowa, as trees, shrubs and reeds along our Goulburn and Upper Murrumbidgee riverbanks stop erosion, filter and trap Rivers, Jeir and Bumbalong Creeks. sediment, provide habitat for native animals, and make our rivers great The tenet ‘make it messy, slow it down‘ places to swim, paddle and picnic. Our is underlying principles about RoC’s work is extending riparian corridors work and the land we love. The bush is into the wider landscape to facilitate ‘messy’ as evidence of its complexity, species movement in the face of functionality and natural balance as climate change. species live out their lives in symbiosis, natural predation and harmony. We are also encouraging landholders to make use of the current incentives Slowing it down refers to deflecting for riparian rehabilitation because in water flow across the land to reduce the future they may be able to claim the erosion caused by rushing water. carbon credits for the work they do. Vegetation in, beside and around Carbon farming is in its early stages, creeks filters sediments and nutrients but landholders can undertake from water and soil chemistry is revegetation now, for multiple restored. Astute are the observers, the

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 23 stewards and the managers who can based on vastly different soil structures see why ‘messiness’ is so and be part and habitats. A recent example was that of that timeless intricacy without any the name had to change to Rivers of compulsion to alter and control. Life for the concept to be acceptable in Australian corridors of power where the Siwan’s slides illustrated how planting notion of reducing atmospheric carbon native vegetation and reincorporating was not palatable. all layers of understorey along the region’s creeks and rivers has helped Programs like RoC can help heal individual land-managers return the wounds arrogance has caused. biodiversity to their land, property by Australia’s recent ecological and property. They’ve reduced the need for agricultural history stands out as a artificial fertilisers and chemical pest litany of persecution, extraction, mining control by allowing native species to the soil and removing the native perform these services. This has saved vegetation. Dominating other species money and prevented the inexorable through moral rectitude, insensitive toxicity of long-cultivated, industrially- land management and exploitation of farmed soil. people has a centuries-long history. RoC’s teams reach out to people-on- It continues today as resources that are the-land, engage and partner with them deemed essential for first-world lives by providing stock watering points away are extracted from the planet’s timeless from fragile riverine and creek corridors. landscapes. Animals and plants have Siwan applies for grants to fund this become commodities, a source of profit. as well as the planting and restoration that landholders wouldn’t have the At least two Australian states have resources to pay for. recently weakened laws that regulate the clearing of native vegetation in Knowledge is shared and mutually favour of landholders who demand the valued with adaptations for each site- right to farm using massive machinery specific situation. that is incompatible with the presence Methodologies are shared, not imposed of paddock trees and islands of native by the bureaucracy (or worse, from grasses, shrubs and trees essential to political expediencies). RoC practitioners. Rivers of Carbon shows, in microcosm, Rivers of Carbon is literally a breath how humans need to re-think and of life, a treasury of renewal projects, restore landscape and the land’s restoration plans and restitution functionality across the planet. events; a return of common sense and ecological logic based on on-ground It is often the arrogance of white realities. Importantly the program is also fellas that Rivers of Carbon seeks to a statement of intent: remedy. We’ve refused to accept aeons of natural processes, seeking control •• Respecting the land — Country and dominance that were the result •• Reversing the situations caused in of centuries of Euro-centric practices the last 229 years

24 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 •• Repairing the consequences of Through story and quotes from the damage literature and language of life Siwan •• Reversing dated opinions and the showed what is happening and what misunderstood practices espoused is being achieved when the land is by some landholders allowed to be itself. RoC processes and projects are Rivers of Carbon changes are achieved especially important: through the power of story as the world’s indigenous peoples have known •• to the 33% of us who are genuinely and promoted for millennia together trying to live simply with modern anecdotes and examples. •• to those who live with minimal Additionally, the situations Rivers of impact and at one with nature Carbon — Rivers of Life is so successfully •• to those who are stewards rather and inspiringly ameliorating are than ‘owners’ of land; nurturers the threatening dilemmas being rather than controllers experienced everywhere, worldwide •• to those who treat agricultural land and on a frightening scale. with respect through empathetic RoC teams reach out to those on the land management practices land partnering with them to fund and •• to those who retain and respect carry out planting and restoration that native vegetation and understand their own resources couldn’t achieve. ‘messy’ bushland and ‘messy’ Knowledge is shared and mutually waterways! valued with adaptations for each site- •• to students of native plants, artists, specific situation. photographers and propagators Methodologies are shared, not imposed •• to those who continue to use water by the bureaucracy (or worse, from wisely and slow water flow on their political expediencies). properties Siwan is a born communicator. She •• to those who restore degraded and brought her passion for the RoC eroded land concept and for the land to us in an •• to those who realise we can no engaging way based on thorough longer afford to water stock, free, practical and theoretical knowledge. I from the land’s — everyone’s water do hope Siwan is able to (and perhaps resources. already does) bring her messages of rural perseverance and hope to a wider RoC is a beacon of hope that shines series of audiences. for us and shines throughout the world when people are at one with It was reaffirming that functioning the land, the places and the species habitats that support balanced arrays that sustain them. Much more respect- of other species are possible and within based agriculture and land-restoration kilometres of our suburban properties. is happening than the skewed media Rivers of Carbon’s website is well worth wants us to know about. visiting www.riversofcarbon.org.au

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 25 Potty Croweas

Crowea saligna 'Large Flower'

Bill Willis If you live in a unit, flat, apartment or if contemplating moving from the big house to the flat or unit, etc, native nuts should ponder: “what can I grow in pots on my balcony?”. Croweas spp (RUTACEAE) are ideal for pots of moderate size; they are, in general small to medium shrubs with pretty, star-shape five- petal flowers that flower for long Crowea exalata ‘Festival’ and ‘Autumn Lights’ periods — from six to nine months and more. Crowea ssp often shed The all Australian genus is named readily viable seed and hence be after James Crowe (c. 1750–1807) prepared to see Crowea spp growing a British surgeon and botanist delightfully, but unexpectedly, over with a botanical interest in willows time, throughout your garden. (Salix). In 1798 founding Linnaean 26 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 ‘Ginninderra Falls’ is Crowea ‘Southern Stars’. A reliable favourite is Crowea ‘Festival’ a long flowering, long living (20 years) selected form that arose from seed in a suburban Sydney garden. Even in Canberra / Queanbeyan Crowea ssp are almost in continuous flower throughout the year.

Crowea saligna pots Other reliable cultivars: Crowea ‘Poorinda Ecstasy’ saligna x exalata Society President and botanical hybrid form of C. saligna with power broker, James Edward pale pink flowers; Crowea exalata Smith, named the crowea genus ‘Bindalong Compact’ a tough in Linnaean Society fellow James dwarf compact form with pink Crowe’s honour. Saligna is crudely flowers and from the Victorian Alps Latin for ‘willow-like’, hence Crowea that grows 0.5 metres high and 0.75 saligna. metres wide. The two east-coast species are Hailing from the same area, but from Crowea saligna and Crowea Merrick’s Nursery Garden, is the long exalata and there are a number of flowering Correa ‘Autumn Lights’ hybrids and cultivars of these two — a potty favourite of mine. genera with a range of star-shaped In recent times, a number of non- flowers from white to deep pink in PBR, non-TM labelled Crowea colour. exalata forms have appeared in nurseries; they may be from The third known genera, Crowea cuttings of ‘wild’ hybrids. Perhaps angustifolia, from the south-west the most attractive is the peach- corner of Western Australia, is a coloured Crowea ?exalata ‘Twice pink-bud, white/pink flowered As Nice’. Other strong Crowea species that tolerates light frost, exalata forms are: Crowea but is considered to be drought ‘Darkside’ and Crowea ‘Ryan’s tolerant. Crowea saligna is endemic Star’ with attractive copper to sclerophyll forest in sheltered coloured apical buds in spring situations on sandstone, from Woy Woy to Yerrinbol. Crowea exalata ‘White Stars’ has been, from my experience, the least The south-east region has its successful form often failing to own crowea, Crowea exalata thrive in my garden or in pots and ‘Ginninderra Falls’. Morphologically failing to survive during extended similar to Crowea exalata dry periods.

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 27 A pot favourite is Crowea saligna A pot ratio of 1–1.5H:1W should ‘Big Flowered Form’ with relatively provide good drainage and maintain large flowers (20–25mm) and the necessary moist, cool root run although not touted to be so, is (Boronia spp). A layer of plastic surprisingly frost hardy. It is also a flyscreen gauze across the pot very prolific flowering form. However, weep holes and raising the pot and a high UV index can weaken the watering tray 1cm approx. above intensity of flower petal colour. ground will mitigate against the balcony being stained by potting- During winter, the tip flowers of mix nutrient run-off. Crowea spp may close or fail to open and the petals will take on a very A 10–20mm layer of finely crushed rich red colour, resembling small red brick, 3mm grade, pea-gravel or rose buds. bush gravel will provide a cooling mulch and a clean but water/air permeable surface.

Crowea 'Festival' double potted Flyscreen gauze across the pot weep holes Pot up Crowea ssp with a free draining potting medium of three quarters Australian Standard potting mix to one quarter coarse washed river sand when potting in autumn to winter and Australian Premium Standard potting mix and coarse washed river sand to the same ratio when potting in spring to early summer. Like boronias, the roots of Crowea spp appreciate a cool root run and Bush gravel will provide a cooling mulch double potting (plastic pot inside a ceramic pot etc) will assist in Go potty over Croweas! I dare you! managing hot spots, hot weather References: https://www.anbg.gov.au/ and watering. photo/apii/genus/Crowea

28 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Sprummer Field Trips November & December 2016

Calotis pubescens, Gungarlin

Text and photos by Roger Farrow stretching across the grassy plain to the wooded hills beyond. Gungarlin sub-alpine grasslands The camping area is situated at the 19-20 November divide between the Snowy Plain to the northwest and the Botherum Plain to We were first introduced to these the south and these are dissected by the grasslands by Jean Smith and Bob Gungarlin River, which creates a distinct Small on a day trip in December 2015 riverine habitat, different from other and were amazed by the diversity of frost hollow grassland in the area such flowering plant species found here. as Nungar, Boggy and Kelly’s plains. This time we spent two days in the area The river bank is occupied by shrubs for a more detailed survey, staying at the National Parks and Wildlife Service including Acrothamnus hookeri, (NPWS) campground on the banks of Epacris paludosa in full flower, Cassinia the Gungarlin River from where we secundiflorus, the vulnerable Discaria had a view of a carpet of buttercups nitida, Leionema phylicifolia, Olearia (Ranunculus graniticola), geraniums floribunda and Pimelea pauciflora (in fact (Geranium antrorsum) and highland a misnomer as the bushes were full of golden moth orchids (Diuris monticola) flowers).

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 29 Asterolasia trymaloides

On our first day, we started with an investigation of an area of eroded granite above the riverbank over the bridge containing mainly prostrate plants such as Cryptandra amara, Goodenia hederacea alpina, Pultenaea subspicata, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, and Hovea aff heterophylla; plus herbs such as Drabastrum alpestre and Leptorhynchus squamatus; and shrubs including Acacia siculiformis, Asterolasia trymaloides, Daviesia ulicifolia, Grevillea lanigera and Hakea microcarpa. Leionema phylicifolium We then followed the Botherum track to the north across several boggy drainage lines containing Ranunculus pimpinellifolius and Limosella australis and a low shrubbery of Epacris glacialis starting to flower and past several ponds containing the floating leaves of Nymphoides montana. The grasslands comprise low growing snow grasses (Poa spp) and have large Diuris monticola populations of different daisy species

30 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Nungar and Boggy Plains to the north. This was a great find as this population appears to be the largest in existence and I reported it to the Threatened Species Unit of NPWS at Queanbeyan and to their office at Jindabyne. On the next day, we followed the trail to the north to Snowy Plain passing Davies Hut. We saw much the same array of species with the addition of large stands of Euphrasia collina diversicolor, Leptorhynchus elongatus and Podolepis jaceoides in bud, while the pools contained Ranunculus inundatus. Crossing through a shrubby watercourse we found in addition to the shrubs seen before Grevillea australis and a hidden Barbarea grayi, listed as vulnerable. Another shrub seen more in the surrounding woodland understory was Acrothamnus hookeri while on our return I found the other Discaria, D. pubescens, the threatened anchor plant

Swainsona monticola notably Brachyscome spp, Craspedia spp, and Leptorhynchus spp and a few Swainsona monticola and Ajuga australis. After a wet crossing of the river, we encountered a large population of a burr daisy, which I identified as Calotis pubescens, an endangered species known only from as few places on Barbarea grayi (above); Discaria pubescens (below) Calotis pubescens (below)

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 31 On the negative side we saw a the trails causing a lot of damage to the large amount of pig damage on the boggy crossings. open plain, in the river flats and in We drove out of Gungarlin via Nimmo the surrounding woodland, which Hill where we had a brief stop to look at are changing the structure of the the plants growing on the rock outcrops vegetation, plus the horse trails, under the power lines, including damaging the wetter areas. Three illegal Podolobium alpestre, Daviesia ulicifolia vehicles were also seen driving along and Tetratheca ciliata.

View over Boggy Plain to the Chimneys from Cascades Trail

Cascades Trail and Tom devised an alternative plan to stay in Groggin Kosciuszko National Park and walk part of the Cascades Trail from Dead Horse 9-12 December Gap and the short trail from Tom Groggin The original plan for this field trip was to camping area to the Murray Ford, both camp at Tom Groggin rest area (or stay new to us. at Thredbo/Jindabyne for non-campers) The Tom Groggin rest area is in and drive into the Alpine National Park picturesque, natural frost-hollow of Victoria each day to explore Davies grassland on the banks of the Murray. Plain and Mt Gibbo. Unfortunately, the It is surrounded by scattered Mountain mighty Murray thwarted this plan after Swamp Gums (Eucalyptus camphora), a very wet winter and high water levels with an understory of tea trees and at the ford crossing into Victoria. So we heaths and a range of other native

32 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 plants and populated by a large mob of inquisitive grey kangaroos. Our first walk on the Saturday was from Dead Horse Gap south along the Cascades fire trail to Bobs Ridge and return. The walk started through snow gum woodland above the Thredbo River but at the very start there was a large patch of Tasmannia xerophila in full flower, all male plants as far as I could ascertain.

Olearia phlogopappa flavescens

Tasmannia xerophila male Further on, the understory was dominated by the whites of Olearia phlogopappa Olearia phlogopappa serrata subsp flavescens and Grevillea australis Olearia phlogopappa subsp serrata with its and the orange of Podolobium alpestre, serrated, shiny green leaves was also seen. cream of Leionema phylicifolia, pink cushions of Pimelea alpina, and purple of The wet gullies were packed with Epacris Hovea montana. There were occasional paludosa in full flower with Montia Acrothamnus in flower although we (Neopaxia) australasica in the more open still have difficulty in deciding between swamps. The small white flowers of A. hookeri and A. montanus. A single Cardamine astoniae in the wetter areas were also seen as well as two species of Asperula, namely, A. conferta and A. gunnii, the latter with more fleshy leaves, plus the mountain caps Caladenia (Stegostyla) alpina. We descended below the lower tree line into the frost hollow shrublands and grasslands of the valley floor with the flower colour coming from the Podolobium alpestre numerous buttercups (Ranunculus

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 33 Epacris microphylla Pimelea axiflora subsp alpina

Epacris paludosa Pimelea ligustrina graniticola), eyebright (Euphrasia collina Victorian Alps. Among the granite diversicolor), Billy buttons (Craspedia obelisks there, we recorded Pimelea ?jamesii), daisies (Erigeron bellidioides ligustrina and Aciphylla simplicifolia. and Brachyscome scapigera) and heaths (Epacris microphylla and E. paludosa) and On the Sunday morning, we walked the short trail from the camping area to the occasional trackside cushions of Pimelea Murray Ford. This passes through rather biflora. open peppermint forest (Eucalyptus Crossing the river, the winding trail robertsonii) with a dense understory ascended southwards back above the of a range of shrubs including Mirbelia tree line into snow gum woodland oxylobioides (flowering finishing), with an understory of Bossiaea foliosa Acrothamnus hookeri tall form, Lomatia complex, Pimelea axiflorasubsp alpina, myricoides, Leptospermum brevipes and characterised by a variable flower Podolobium procumbens among others. arrangement from clusters to axillary, I want to start with an unusual shrub Ozothamnus secundiflorus and other on the riverbank at our camping site, species seen previously. Bob’s Ridge which I identified asBertya findlayi, a rare affords a spectacular view to the south waterside plant of the upper Murray. It to the remnant snow patches of the has separate male and female plants.

34 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Arthropodium milleflorum Epilobium sp

Thysanotus tunerosus The forest floor was covered with a colourful range of different plants in flower includingArthropodium milleflorum, Burchardia umbellata, Coronidium montanum, Gompholobium huegelii, Pimelea linifolia, Ranunculus sp, Rhytidosporum procumbens, Stylidium armeria, Thysanotus tuberosus and Wahlenbergia ceracea. Although the frost-hollow grassland is largely grass covered, there are Epacris gunnii some boggy seepages with forbs like Epilobium sp Hypoxis hygrometrica, Ranunculus sp, and Veronica gracilis, E. microphylla by its long spiny mucro) and various unidentified sedges and and Hakea microcarpa. rushes and patches of shrubs including Epacris gunnii (formerly E. microphylla Altogether two very rewarding trips for subsp gunnii and distinguished from scenery and new plants species seen.

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 35 Our Environment — Temperature

Text and photos by Masumi Robertson •• Maximum temperatures cross over with our summers hotter We have a challenging environment and winters lower maximum than in Canberra, but we can still grow a Melbourne and Sydney wide range of Australian native plants in our gardens. Understanding our •• So as we all know, it is the winter environment helps to create wonderful temperatures which make gardening gardens. Temperature is a given in Canberra more challenging environmental factor we cannot do much about. We can water plants when the rainfall is not enough, and improve our soil by bringing in sand, compost and even rocks. We can create shade with a shade cloth and/or taller trees, but there is not much we can do about the temperature, or is there? But first, let’s see what sort of temperature we have in Canberra and how it differs from south-eastern coastal locations such as Sydney, Melbourne and the South Coast. For this, we can Frost on Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ look up the weather observation records at the Bureau of Meteorology The two groups clearly separate out for (BoM) website. Long term records for the winter months. But even then, the o various locations were used to create differences are 4 to 7 C for the mean the graphs which were published in the minimum temperature and that doesn’t December 2016 Journal. Canberra is the sound like much. But stress comes dotted line, and Sydney: A, Melbourne: from the cumulative effect on plants B and the South Coast: C. which are exposed to a consistently lower temperature every day for many Key observations months, from May to September. •• Minimum temperatures define two This difference is greater for the groups; the coastal locations (A, B record lowest temperature, Canberra, and C) are warmer than Southern experiencing 6 to 10oC lower Tableland locations (Canberra, temperatures than the coast, so our E and F) cold-stressed plants are exposed to

36 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 extra cold temperatures. None of the temperature is 2oC. This is why small warmer three locations ever recorded plants can die from cold, while the temperatures lower than –3oC. For same plant can survive once grown up Sydney metro, the record lowest with more of the plant, including new temperature is only 0.1oC which is the growth, above the ground level cold. same as the Canberra mean minimum. Knowing this, how do we go about In contrast, Canberra’s coldest ever growing a plant which is marginal temperature is –10oC. in Canberra because of its poor cold tolerance? Topography and aspect of your block: Cold air flows downwards along the ground, just like water. So having a sloping block helps to drain away the cold air. To some degree, the colder ground surface temperature can be avoided on a sloped block. Cold air on a flat block, on the other hand, does not have anywhere to go, so it tends to be colder. Colder still Thick frost on Dichondra repens is a valley where the drained cold air accumulates, creating a frost hollow. But this is not the minimum plants Even the lowest area within a sloping are experiencing, since the lowest block is colder or anywhere there is a temperature at the ground level is –15.1oC, or 5.1oC lower than the air temperature measured in a screened box at 1.2m high. So we can expect plants at ground level are experiencing temperatures a lot colder than the reported air temperatures every day and we can expect frosts even when the air Actinotus helianthi in ground on a terraced bed

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 37 solid fence or a building blocking the cold air from flowing away. The aspect of the slope also affects the temperature. A north facing block is warmer than a south facing block because it is exposed to the sun. The growing conditions at the ANBG are quite special, largely because it is located on the east facing slope of Black Mountain. Thelychiton kingianus & its hybrids grown outdoors under an eave If your block is flat, a raised bed can create an area which is slightly with a label description ‘overhead cover’ warmer than the rest of the block. need some frost protection, but not The larger and higher the mound, the necessarily some shade. warmer (less cold) the temperature. Heat sink: Brick and stone walls absorb And we have noticed that even a raised and store heat during the day and bed of less than 30cm has helped some release it at night. The nearby area is plants grow better. kept slightly warmer from this radiant Overhead cover: Trees and some heat. A north facing wall is especially larger shrubs provide overhead cover good at absorbing heat from the winter to protect plants underneath them as sun. Placing stones and rocks, large frosts do not occur, or are less severe, in and small, beside a plant you want to such areas. So when starting a garden protect also acts as a heat sink. in an exposed, completely bare block, it may be best to start with more frost hardy trees and large shrubs. And if a plant needing special care in Canberra died a few years ago, it may be worthwhile to try it again after other plants have grown up to provide more protection underneath them. Eaves also provide overhead cover. They are more solid and the area under them is often frost free (unless cold air drains into it). Our frost-sensitive Thelychiton orchids grow and flower under the eave Corymbia ficifolia ‘Lolipop’ against a north-facing wall and because of this protection. Plants vigorous growth of Anigozanthos flavidus colour forms

38 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Microclimates The three main points discussed earlier can be applied to gardens large and There are microclimates in every small to create, or discover, more areas garden. It is essential to know your with warmer microclimates: own block. In winter, frosts occur in some parts of the garden, while in •• Sloping block or raised beds other parts, the ground remains frost •• Overhead cover using plants and structures free or frosts are less severe. Early morning observations for frosts during •• Heat sink: brick and stone walls and stones in a garden the winter months will show you the With these points in mind, try some ‘warm spots’ in a garden. The ground plants and observe your winter garden and the air temperatures can be for frosts. A real challenge for Canberra measured, using a maximum/minimum gardeners is balancing the winter thermometer (or a digital version), temperature situations with those of to find areas more suitable for plants summer, not to mention soil and water which are less frost and cold tolerant. needs.

A terraced sloping block

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 39 Banksia Study Group reactivated

This is an invitation from Kevin and copies of newsletters which will be Kathy Collins, Banksia Study Group, produced at least twice a year. www.banksiafarm.com.au for you Membership also entitles you to join the Banksia Study Group to four small packets of banksia which is being reactivated after seed per annum and an emailed being in recess since 2013. basic home growing instruction Many interesting developments sheet on request. The seeds can with grafting, new species with be selected from the Banksia Farm DNA taxonomy, many new colour seed catalogue attached and and dwarfing forms of a number doesn’t include rare, unusual or of species, PhD projects utilising restricted species. Supply is subject banksia and new gardens/ to availability. Seeds of rarer species collections have afforded copious may be purchased from Banksia Farm as required and subject to material for many interesting availability. newsletters. Input is encouraged with pictures, successes and failures Membership payment options to add to the wonderful databank of •• Preferred method is to direct material already recorded. credit ANPSA Banksia Study To join the Australian Native Plants Group account. Society Australia (ANPSA) Banksia BSB 633 000. Account No. Study Group simply visit http:// 158397885. Please reference anpsa.org.au with your Initial and Surname •• Alternatively forward a cheque Click on Study Groups made out to ANPSA Banksia Scroll down to Joining a Study Study Group and post to K&K Group Collins, Banksia Farm, PO Box 132, Mount Barker, WA 6324 Click on Banksia under Selections of articles for the first Currently Operating Study newsletter (to whet your appetite) Groups will be made from the following: Follow Join instructions •• Banksia taxonomy — 10 years on Your ANPSA generated request since DNA revision — does the will be acknowledged. The $7 status quo remain? membership entitles you to emailed •• Australia’s largest banksia artwork

40 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 •• A new fossil banksia in WA •• uCT scanning of 50 Australian •• Growing banksias in Lyon, France banksia cones examining wood •• Cheynes Beach headland — a fibre structure — Michaela Eder, Proteaceae hotspot with many German professor, Botany evolved prostrate and dwarfing •• Current status of Banksia Farm forms arboretum, now 26 years since •• Are banksias resilient to climate being acknowledged as the only complete collection of species change? Masters project — Sarah and infra-generic taxa Randell •• DNA findings of the B. •• Perth banksia woodlands — spinulosa complex and possible CCWA (Conservation Council of implications WA) findings and new legislation •• Grafting updates — new •• Thanks — Cas Liber former leader successes and methodology •• Vale journalist and banksia •• Some beautiful colour forms of enthusiast Graeme O’Neill B.ornata • • Serotiny of WA species — •• Revisiting DRF (declared comparing widely distributed rare flora) banksia species species, German PHD project sites assessing regeneration. •• New garden collection — Paul Commencing with B. oligantha Kennedy •• Banksia growing in California and •• A new banksia species B. Florida, USA vincentia and its preservation •• Europe’s largest banksia program collection — botanist Liesbeth •• Banksia Lovers Facebook site Uijtewaal, Netherlands

Banksia menziesii, Cervantes, WA; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 41 Christmas Party 2016

Photos: Lucinda Royston and Lyn Woodbury's property at Googong for lunch and yet another In December 2016, members rural stroll, this time through Peter enjoyed an end-of-year morning tea and Lyn's garden. The whole day and stroll through Roger Farrow and was a lovely social occasion to cap Christine Kendrick's rural garden off yet another year in the history of at Urila. We then travelled to Peter our society.

A feast to share

Brigitta, Christine and Linda

42 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Dave, Robyn and Mike Gail, Robyn and Margaret

Merelyn and Kris

A stroll through Peter and Lyn's garden

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 43 Trigger Plants Stylidium montanum, Mt Stillwell; Photo by Roger Farrow

44 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Study Group Notes

By Brigitta Wimmer, Study Group Liaison Eremophila Study Group Officer, ANPS Canberra Region Newsletter No 116, February 2017 Acacia Study Group •• Letter from the Editor Newsletter •• Vale Keith Pitman Newsletter No 135, December 2016 •• …and Tim Kolaczyk •• From the Leader •• What’s New in the Study Group •• Welcome •• Website Challenge •• From Members and Readers •• New members •• Moving to Canberra? •• Research news •• Cheap Wattles For Sale •• More new species •• Acacia siculiformis •• Antibacterial properties of •• Lace Bugs and Acacias E. alternifolia (continued •• Acacia craspedocarpa •• Eremophila woodiae •• Seed Bank •• Forms of E. glandulifera •• Study Group Membership •• …and three (?) of E. eriocalyx •• Seed Bank List of Species •• Eremophila macdonnellii Dryandra Study Group •• Forms Newsletter No 72, February 2017 •• Cultivation •• Propagation •• A Wonderful Wildflower Year •• Hybrids •• Margaret, Lynn and Tim’s Northern Circuit, August 2016 •• Mystery no more •• The New Garden at Millstone Manor, •• From your letters Kalamunda, Perth •• Events •• More on D. nobilis •• ESG Gathering 8–10 September 2017 •• Updating the Dryandra Digital •• Sydney meeting Archive •• Victorian meeting I hope you have taken note of the •• Queensland meeting separate article in this journal that the •• Buying Eremophila Banksia Study Group is being reactivated and is looking for new members. Please •• Future Newsletter Themes do join if you are interested! •• About the Study Group

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 45 Garden Design Study Group •• Grevillea aspleniifolia Newsletter No 97, February 2017 •• Grevillea wilkinsonii •• Leader’s Comments •• Grevillea Spider Mist — ACRA 1539 •• Anniversary Year 2017 •• Some notes from the gardener: •• Creating and Australian Plants Design and landscaping Garden •• Seedbank News •• A ‘5 Star’ native bee hotel Waratah and Flannel •• National Botanic Gardens new Flower Study Group conservatory Newsletter No 12, December 2016 •• Taking a chance on Eremophilas •• Maria writes •• Japanese Garden in Gladstone •• From the members •• Queensland Chapter Germinates •• Tranter method trials •• Eucalypts at Monash University •• Telopea ’Corroborree’ •• Treasurer’s report •• Waratah Festival •• Index •• Asparagoid waratah Grevillea Study Group •• Checklist of Telopea species and Newsletter No 105, November 2016 varieties •• Editorial •• Checklist of Actinotus species and varieties •• Victorian Chapter news Please note this Study Group has a new •• Vale Ann Radke (1953–2015) website waratahflannelflowersg.weebly. • • More on Grevillea montana com •• Grevilleas cultivated by Baron Charles von Hügel in 1831 in his Maria Hitchcock also asks to have any garden at Hietzing, Austria future mail directed to PO Box 4214, Armidale West NSW 2350. •• The Introduction of Grevilleas to England & Europe

Treading Lightly

Rosemary Blemings In early December I came across The Art It offers 51 short readable chapters on of Frugal Hedonism: A Guide to spending treading lightly on a fragile planet and less whilst enjoying everything more, with minimal expense. Melliodora Press, 2016.

46 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc. The aims of the Society are to foster the recognition, conservation and Membership Fees cultivation of Australian native plants. Single or family memberships are the same price. Meetings are held at 8 pm on the second Thursday of each month, Basic membership including Bulletin and Journal — $35 ($18*) February to December, in Canberra. Visitors are always welcome. Full membership including Bulletin, Journal and Australian Day and weekend field trips to locations of outstanding botanical Plants — $50 ($33*) interest are organised on a regular basis. Life member subscribing to Australian Plants — $15 The Society publishes a Bulletin in all months except January, and this * Concession rates apply to pensioners (Centrelink), full-time quarterly Journal in March, June, September and December. students and unemployed. Website: nativeplants-canberra.asn.au Membership Secretary: Ros Walcott 02 6161 2742 [email protected] Council Other useful contacts President Bulletin Editor Lucinda Royston Anthony O'Halloran 02 6231 6067 [email protected] [email protected] Study Group Liaison Officer Vice President Alison Roach Brigitta Wimmer 0401 669 878 [email protected] [email protected] Propagation aid sales Secretary Glenn Pure Vacant 66 Crozier Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902 02 6231 6457 Booksales Treasurer Murray Dadds Ben Walcott 02 6161 2742 43 MacLaurin Cres, Chifley ACT 2606 [email protected] 0404 870 447 Assistant Secretary/Treasurer [email protected] John Carter Public Officer 02 6231 7055 (for Associations Incorporation Act purposes) [email protected] Paul Meier Other Council Members 7 Robert Lewis Crescent, Gordon ACT 2906 Geoff Butler 02 6294 6601 (h) Philip Fradd Greg Quinn All Society correspondence to Ros Walcott The Secretary Bill Willis ANPS Canberra Region (Inc), PO Box 217 Peter Woodbury Civic Square ACT 2608 Back cover: Dipodium roseum, Lowden Park; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2017 47